Caitlin Williams’ New JAFF Story Reimagines Elizabeth Bennet’s Early Years

Last spring I read a JAFF story named “Ardently” that seemed to come from thin air… No blog posts announcing its imminent arrival… No cover reveals or blog tours introducing the story or its author. Actually, when I went online to search for the author, I couldn’t find a thing… Not a website, not a blog review, or a single thread to lead me to her… But then I found her author page on Amazon and since that very same week, I’ve had the good fortune to become acquainted with Caitlin Williams.

She actually did me the great honor of writing a follow-up vignette to “Ardently,” which is titled “Even More Ardently,” for “The Twelve Days of Jane” Just Jane 1813 holiday blog event. Her vignette post went on to become one of my most-viewed blog posts and has wonderful ratings on Goodreads. She also included it as an add-on to “Ardently”when it was released as a paperback, which until this day has a 4.7-star rating on Amazon after 108 reviews. Pretty amazing, right?

Today, I am so excited to bring my readers the news that Caitlin’s new book, “The Coming Of Age Of Elizabeth Bennet,” will be released in early June and that not only is Just Jane 1813 revealing the cover to her new book on Wednesday, June 1, 2016, we are also collaborating with twelve other Austenesque bloggers to bring JAFF readers a sensational blog tour filled with book reviews, an interview with Caitlin, guest posts, excerpts and giveaways beginning on June 13, 2016.

I happened to get my first glimpse of her new book cover on my way to NYC to see the movie “Love and Friendship,” which seemed so fitting on that Austen-inspired day. When you see the cover next week, I think you’ll understand why I absolutely love it. I just adore Regency era art pieces and this one connects another memorable and unique image from this period with what I believe will become another well-loved JAFF story by Mrs. Williams. When I finished this book this past weekend, I fell even more in love with its cover image! I can’t wait to read your reactions to it on June 1st.

Throughout “The Coming Of Age Of Elizabeth Bennet,” Caitlin takes her readers in a whole new direction with her coming-of-age story, which is told in four volumes, and even though I couldn’t read it all in one sitting, I did complete it in one weekend…. And what a journey it is!

It’s a story that delves deeply into Elizabeth’s early years as she matures into a young lady under the unanticipated pressures and expectations of numerous people. Is one of them Mr. Darcy? Well, I can’t tell you everything yet, but what would a “Pride and Prejudice” story be without our favorite gentleman from Derbyshire?

And now that you’ve seen a peek of this cover, can you do us a favor and leave us a comment on this post and maybe even share it on your social media? Please tell us what you think of this little sneak peek. Are you already a fan of Caitlin’s writing since the publication of “Ardently,” which I reviewed last year, and which earned her a 2015 Just Jane 1813 Reviewer’s Favorite New JAFF Author Award?Have you been wondering if and when Caitlin would release a new book? Readers, the wait is almost over. One week until the cover reveal, and then its publication. Before you know it, her blog tour will be launched. What thrilling plans we have in store for you! Are you interested in reading this story and following the blog tour? I certainly hope so!

I want to thank Jesse Kaye for her splendid banner design and the Regency era curtains and photo frame in this post’s image are courtesy of EK Duncan, My Fanciful Muse.

I can’t wait to see you here on June 1st for the full cover real of “The Coming Of Age Of Elizabeth Bennet!”

Reader Interactions

Comments

I certainly look forward to reading this new book by Caitlin Williams. Ardently is my favourite “what if” story, mingling Pride and Prejudice with Persuasion and even a touch of Northangey Abbey. I would have given the book 6 stars if it had been available for the perfect style, sense of humour, respect of the original characters and a story speaking to the heart.

What until you see the Austen-inspired touches sprinkled throughout this book! I think you’ll love them too. Thanks for your kind words about “Ardently,” and for visiting Just Jane 1813. I hope you enjoy future posts!

Sounds like a novel take on Elizabeth’s formative years. Maybe we’ll see where her lively wit and intelligent mind (which Darcy so admires) come from. Although the title “Ardently” sounds familiar, not sure I have read it. Is there a link still available for it?

Thank you, Nathalie, what a lovely compliment. I hope you like the new book as much, though this starts with a much younger Elizabeth, rather than an older one, as in Ardently.
Thanks to Just Jane for hosting this and doing such a beautiful job. It’s quite a build-up. I have a lot to live up to now! Can’t wait for cover reveal day.

You are so welcome Caitlin. As Mr Darcy would say, if I may twist his words just a little, I had never read a book that had given me so much pleasure. And I am sure I shall have much pleasure with your next book.

This is definitely exciting news as I so loved ‘Ardently’! I think I will have to re-read it and do a review as I hadn’t done one when I originally read it when it first came out last year. That has been my goal for 2016 to write a review for each book I read….but I digress.

The cover reveal is such a tease, as you know Claudine, I love old portrait paintings. I am looking forward to the cover reveal and learning more about ‘The Coming of Age of Elizabeth Bennet!

Thanks Carole, I’m so glad you liked Ardently. I am terrible at reviews and can never think of anything to say other than I liked it, or I didn’t. I really admire people who can write good ones. I love the portrait that is on the cover of this new book, I think it really fits the story.

I was hoping you’d see this Carole. I knew you loved “Ardently” and I really can’t wait until you read this book, especially since I just finished it. I need readers to talk to about it now!
I reread “Ardently” this past December and it was such a treat to read again, so I highly recommend a reread. I look forward to having you see the cover next week too! Thanks for today’s visit.

I so remember discovering Caitlin’s book on Amazon…just by chance as no one had recommended it and there were no reviews posted. I loved it immediately. I also like the tease for the new cover. I am anxiously waiting for this new book. I did also enjoy Even More Ardently when it was posted on this blog. Well done.

Love love love the drum roll and I can’t wait for the rest! I loved Ardently, what a fabulous story! So much romance and depth of feeling! Can’t wait to read Caitlin’s new book, I’m sure it’ll be another gem. Good luck with the launch, Caitlin, and keep writing!

Thank you so much Joana. Your support is much appreciated and since you loved “Ardently,” I believe you’ll love this new release too. It’s quite a bit longer and obviously spins a whole different story for ODC. I hope you love the cover too!

Ardently was the 5th review I posted on my blog back in August 2015 when I launched it, and just like you, I was surprised to find so little about this author online, the book was after all one of the best I had ever read, so I couldn’t be more thrilled when a few months later you gave us the pleasure of reading Even More Ardently!
Caitlin Williams new book is a treasure I’ve been waiting for for a long time! I can’t wait to read it and I truly expect she won’t stop here, because someone who started with Ardently has to be incredibly talented in the art of writing. I feel I could stay here and praise Caitlin Williams for another hour, and I do apologies for that, but Ardently is clearly on my top 10 favorite JAFF books, and by now I!ve read quite a few 😉
Anyway, thanks for organizing the blog tour and for spreading the word about this wonderful author Claudine! I’ll be here for the cover reveal for sure 🙂

Rita, your support is tremendous and it’s really so powerful to connect with other readers over a beloved story. How great that “Ardently” was an early post for you and your readers! It was like this quiet little story that just blazed across the JAFF community… Thanks to Sheila, I was an early reader of this story too and now that you’ll be one of the first readers of her next book, I couldn’t be happier about having you on the tour. I hope that one day we get to meet in person and talk about our love for JAFF for hours and hours on end! Thanks for visiting today and get ready for this incredible story!

Rita, thanks for the lovely words. I was so naive when I published Ardently. I had no idea about blogs or how to get it reviewed. I was very lucky it got picked up and read by yourself and others. Your support is much appreciated.

I’m a big fan of Caitlin Williams, Ardently. It was one of the few P&P fan fiction books I read while working on my own Pride & Prejudice novels. She really knows her JA and I loved the touches of persuasion mixed in there. Congrats on the new release!

Thanks for the lovely praise for Caitlin’s writing. I’m so glad you enjoyed “Ardently” and I can’t wait to read your thoughts about this story and you see all the Austen mixes included in this one. I think they’re brilliant! Thanks for supporting Just Jane 1813… I look forward to your next release too.

How fun! I love that you get to be the one to pull back the curtain on the new cover as you were a big supporter already.
I am a bad reader and still need to snag Ardently at some point. So much praise can’t be in vain, right?

Lol! No, it can’t be Sophia. It’s a beautifully crafted story and this one shows Caitlin’s “staying power,” IMO. I hope you get to read them both sooner rather than later. Thanks for your constant support!

I stumbled across “Ardently” back in June 2015 on Amazon. I immediately read the book and wrote a review on Amazon because I loved this book. Then we got “Even More Ardently” and that was wonderful. I am so excited for the cover reveal and release of the new book. This is an author that I will read and re-read. Thanks Claudine for keeping me informed and up to date. June 1 cannot come soon enough.

You’re welcome Shelley. Your comments brought such a smile to my face! I think you’ll love her next book and I look forward to seeing you here on June 1st. I also look forward to reading your comments after you read “The Coming Of Age Of Elizabeth Bennet!”

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Just Jane 1813 is an online community that fosters a book club experience with its readers, to bring you JAFF and other Austen-related book reviews, giveaways, and posts pertaining to everything Austen, all the time.